Machine for making expanded metal



Mar. 13, 1923, 'v 1,448,109.

l H. DEAN ET AL. v

I MACHINE FOR MAKlNG EXPANDED METAL.

FILED 1A N.23. 1923. '1 sHEEs-sHEEIT z. i

"MIMI If/MQM,

Mal". 13, 1923.

' -J. H. DEAN ET' AL.

`n/LAcHHvE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL.-

SHEETS--SHEET 3.

FILE'D JAN.23,1923.

Q n. 5mn.

Mar. 18,1923.

y 1. H. .DEA1\1ETM.--` Y l MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL FILED 1AN. 23, w23.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

-J. H. DEAN UAL.

Mar. 13, 1923.A

MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL.

lll l l 0J. ,7. C 8, im wu L j l .l i, mi EL .VM 02M D M M Wm., NN L mn. WN M Mbmw f o. fh.

Mal". 12?

Patented Mar. 13,1923.`

' UNITED STATES JAMES H. DEAN, OE EUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, AND' TORRIs H. ALEREDS, vor PARK' RIDGE, ILLINOIS, nssIefNORs To NORTHWESTERN EXPANDED METAL COMPANY,

.or CHICAGO, ILLINOIs, A ooRPORArION OE ILLINOIS.

'.- JIAOHINE FORM-KING EXPANDED METAL.` l

apnea-tin inea January 23, i923. serial No. 614,472'.

To all whom 'it may vanvera.'

Be it known that we, JAMES H. DEAN and..

ToRRIs H.- ALFREDs, citizens of the United States, and residents of Ludington, Michigan, and Park "Ridge, Illinois, respectively, have invented certain new 'and usefulf-Imp-rovements in .Machinesi for Making Expanded Metal; and we dohereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this s-pe'cilication.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for fmaking .expanded metal and consistsof the matters hereinafter described and more particularly Vpointed out inthe ap ended claims.

he'of the objects of the present invention is toA provide a'm'achine which will operate to expand certain predetermined portions of a metallic sheet, 'leaving between said expanded portions, unexpanded portions of a width greater than that of one' of the strands in the expanded portion, with-the said' expanded portions andthe said unexlpanded portions arranged in parallelfalternate relation in the Yfinished sheet. y

This object of the invention together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as we proceed with our specification;

In-fthe drawings Fig. l is a View in front elevation'of a. machine for makmg expanded metal, em

body'in'g ourv invention.

Fig. Zis a viewin rear elevation of the same.

Figi 3 is altop plan' view of a machine embodying our invention, la part of which .is shown as broken away to 'more clearly illustratethe. same.'

Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional view on an enlarged' scale, taken through one end ofthe machine" as Fig. 2. v l

Fig. 5 is' a detail vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. *2.

Fig. 6 is-another detail vertical sectional View taken o n the line'L-of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is adetail vertical sectional View indicated by the line -4-4 o-f on ,an enlarged scale as taken" on theline 7-7 ding, a

Figs. 8 and' 9- are detail vertical sectional views as taken on the lines 8 8 and 9 9 respectively, of Fig. 7.

F ig. lOisfa plan Viewlof asheet of 'eX vin accordancewith our invention and will be more particularly referred to later.

Fig. l2 is a transverse ysectional view through an 'expanded sheet made in accordance with our invention, the plane of the Sectio-n being indicated by the line 12e-12 of Fig. 10. f

` Fig. 413 is another transverse sectional view through` the sheet, showing the-same after passing through a ribbing machine 'to upset theunex'panded portions thereof, to form ribs which project from one surface of the sheet. I

Figs. 14, 15 and lare transverse vertical,

.detail sectional Views as taken on 'the lines Fig. "3.

Figs. 17 and 18 are' detail sectional views ILE-14, 15-15, and lf3-16, respectively, of

as taken on the lines 17-17 vand 18e-18, re-

spectively, of Fig. 16.

`Fig..l9 1s a top lplan View o f one of a' pluralityl of knife blocks embodied .in the machine. y .A

Fig. QO'is` an end view of said knife block. In general our improved machine, 'includes upper and lower' knife bars having a relative vertical movement.

knife bars .the feeding means having a lateral movementwith respect to the knife bars. The prim'aryfeeding means feeds thesheet .toward and between 'the knife bars `a pre- Associated there! with are primaryand secondary means for feeding thesheet toward and between s'ald ing means again operates to feed the sl. the predetermined number of times, in short,

step by step movements, as before described,

y expanded sheet is discharged from the maf tudinal shoulder 33 extending the full Width the 'said'twvo feeding means operating in proper timed relation unt-1l the finished'or chine. Referring now" in detail to that embodiment of our invention illustrated in the ac companying drawings, indicates the. frame `of our improved machine, which 1s Asuitably secured upon a masonry foundationv The bottom connecting frame-memberi'lorv bed plate 28 is made in the form of a horizontally ldisposed elongated channel, having' a front Web4 29 arranged flush 'with the front face of the end standards 26, and -top and bottom vrearwardly extending flanges 30 and 31, respectively.' Said connecting frame member includes end Walls 32, which engage against and are bolted to the end standards 26, 26. On the top of said frame member 28, at the front thereof, is provided a longiof the frame member.' @n.the front face of the Web-'29 a short distance belowv said.

shoulder is a longitudinally extending rib 34. The front face of the shoulder'v33 and the Web 29, above the rib 34 is faced off to receive a stationary knife bar 35 preferably made in sections, said knife bar sections .having longitudinally spaced slots 36 therein to receive the bolts 37 which 'extendthrough saidslots and are threaded into the shoulderjto secure the knife bar in placer Threaded through thezfrib'34 on the front face of the frame member 28, are vertically disposed set screwsA 38 Which engage the' bottom edge'of the knife bar sections. vSaid screws provide the necessary adjustment for the knife bar sections so that the topedges of said sections may all be aligned in the same horizontal plane,andassist in holding said sections in their proper positions:

The top connecting frame' member 27 is I also made in the form lofa' horizontally disposed channel, having a: front Web 40 and top and bot-tom., rearwardly extending' anges 41- and 42 respectively. Said channel member includes'end Walls 4 3 which engage against and are bolted to the end standards'26, 26. The bottom flange 42 of said connecting'member 27 is spaced vertically above the top 'flange 0f the Vother chan nel' connecting member 28, to provide a. space or compartmentin which. the sheet feeding mechanism is located as will hereinafter appeal-,fthe front webA 4Q of said memben? being arranged in a vertical rearwardly from that/of the of the member 28.

45 indicates a knife headnfhich is mount-- front web 29 ed at its ends and at its middle, for a vertical reciprocating movement with respect to piane spaced the end standards 26, 26'and the top channel l' connecting -member 27. Said knife vhead includes an upright rear Web 46 andtop and bottom forwardly extending flanges47 and 48f.respectively, the said web and fianges being braced by. suitable lintegral"connectingflanges so that said head will amply Withstand the strains imposed upon it. The upf- `right lWeb ofthe knife head. hasendext'enf `sions 49 (only one of Whichis shown 'in ,Fig 3) Which have.l sliding bearing. in faced offv recesses 26aL in the front face of said end l i standards 26, suitable face plates 26b being bolted to said en d standards tohold said to the 'rear face ofthe Web'46 of theflrnife head, 'mid Way between its endsy is a.. verti cally disposed block/46a. Saidblockhas lateral' eXtensions 46h which have sliding bea-ring a complementally shaped, vertically disposedgroove. 27't1 formed in -thef front face of. the'channel member 127.-.'It is apparent fromv theforegoing description i l that the` knife head '45, While mounted for.

verticalreciprocating movement in the fend Standards 26'fil'lldmen/ber 'QIC-cannot shift` horizontally.

Seated in a suitable recesslinlthe bottom surface of the knife head flange'48 at'its rear edge, is a longitudinallyentending flat 51 made of a plurality 'of )knife ysections 52, see' Figs; 4, |19, and 20 respectively.: Each.

knife head extensions in position.v z-Boltedt 'bar' 50 which is secured to the knife head -in any suitable manner. 4

Associated 'With said bar, isaknifebarj knife section consists'4 'of a dat rectangular block, the endsoffvvhich are formed toi pro'- vi'de top and bottom undulating surfaces 52a which conforml in outline to thediamond shaped. open mesh of thefinished expanded sheet. The knife sectionsl are arranged side i" by side,- in face' to face engagement with theaba'r 50 andare bolted thereto by bolts 1 l 15 tions` and through ,said bar 50 into the -botivhichA extend through' slots 54 in lsaidse'ctom .flange'48 of the .knifehead' The rear i ends of the knife sections are arranged in the `pla'ne,oi th e front face' of the stationary -knifebar 35 beforementioned, and to assist in making the proper adjustment ofsaid sections, there are provided, suitable adjnstl ment bolts 55 Which are threaded through .a longitudinal. ribl 48al on the bottom web 48 of the knife head and engage the frontendsof said'knife sections. By means of the bolt and slot connections 53 and 54 together with the bolts 55, the knife sections may be accurately adjusted and' then locked l securely in position.

vVertical reciprocating movement'- is lim- 56 indicate links which are pivot-ally connected at their bottom ends to the' knife head by Ineasof short longitudinally extending,

yhorizontally disposed pins 57 fixed-in, suit# able ears near the ends'of lsai-d knife'head.

The topends ofv said links are connected by pins58 with the bottom ends of coaoting links 59, the top ends of which swing upon -pins 60 journalled in bearing blocks 61 that depend from and are lbolted tothe overhanging top ends 26c ofthe end stand# ards. Saidf top ends of -said end standards are offset inwardly from the planeof. the main body part of said standar ds,'as-

shown 'in Figs. land 3'of the' drawings, so

. that the l-inks 56 and 59 which form-a toggle between the knife head and said top ends are spaced' inwardly froml the ends ofthe knifehead Each link 5.6 has a short rearward-extension 56a (see Fig. 4)---at lits top end and connected to said extension isthe frontend of a pitman rod 62, the rear end of which is formed to'provide an eccentric strap 63. The straps 63 of said pitmanrods surround eccentric discs 64', fixed to a ho-ri-` zontall'y l extending, ltransversely arranged drive shaft 65 near its ends, which is journalled in suitable bearing boxes 26jl mounted on the end standards 26. -Fixed to the ends 56 and 59 so as to impart,comparatively short, vertical, reciprocating movements to the knife-head. 'In .the web 40 of the'channel shapedconnecting member27 -and in the web 46 of the knife head are provided suitable 4openings through. which the pitman rods 62 entend. To assist in the upward vertical movement of the lknife head, there is provided the following construction:- Seecured in the web 464 of the knife head near itsends are relatively long, vertically disposed lag bolts 66` which slide through suit-.

able holes in the front endsof forwardly extending arms or straps 67 secured to the top flange of the connecting channel member'27.

Surrounding; that part of each lagbolt` 661i above the associated arm. 67 is van'aexpansion coiled spring (S8-which engages at one end against said arm and at its other endfagainst' a washer`69 on `the top end of said lag bolt. Nuts 7.0 are' screwed on thetop endof each lag bolt to provide the desired tension in saidspring. Inthe downward movement of the knife head, the springs 68 `arecompressedand their expansive tendency assists in lifting the knife head in its upward mover mentl Associated with the knife head is a yielding presser foot bar 7l which is adapted to 'ham the shea -fo be 4Xpandai' whiiefthe partedto the knife head 45 as follows 56,-

bending downward, .-the"' fs trands formed v- -a limited .relativev movement between said knife head and presser f ootbar members in, 44the manner well known. kFixed to the bottom portion of said-presserfoot'channels are f5 sectional blocks and vvguide flanges'73 and` 7 4respectively. The sectional blocks engage the Sheet which is beingoperate-d upon -the flanges 74 assist'in.guidingajnew sheet into place' when said sheet is first inserted .in 9.0 f

pt )sition inthe machinetobe operated upon.

Associated with the Channelisections qflthe presser foot are transverselyspaced, vertical rods or bolts 75 which, extend upwardly v .through .the space between the channellike,95`

connecting member 27 and the knife-head-45,

the top ends of saidwrods'I havings'liding l bearingin Z'shaped brackets-76. fixed tothe top flange 47 of .theknife head. Threaded upon the upper ends ofsaid rods r bolts are nuts 7 5a and surrounding'said upper ends of saidrods between said' nuts and said brack'- et arms yare expansion lcoiled springs 77 which normally 'urge said rods .and consequen-fly the presser-foot downwardly; In 105. vthe downward movementof the knife head,-

the-presser 'footbarwill engage thegsheet before the kni`fe`,b ar1 .5-1reaches the same, sothat the sheet is securely held during the slitting of the sheet and the stretching and 1 0 bendingof the strands produced by the knife 4bar. In the upward ,movement of the knife 'i head the presser i foot will be carried up-. wardly therewith away from-the sheet -so that'l the same may be 'fed/forwardly the proper 115' distance as will later appear," 80 -`n dic'ates a table `or support for 'the sheet: to be operated upon. v vSaid table is in the'forrn of a rec-tangulaig openframe :arranged in ,afhorizontal plane a sho-rtdistance above that of the top flange 30 of the bottom channel likeyconnecting member' 28. Said table 'or support includes side bars 81 and a rear bar 82,-the forward ends of the side bars being connected together by 126 angle bars 83: 83. Mounted on the table, and fixed to the side bars 8l and front angle bars 83 is a plate'84, the front marginal part of which overhangs' the shoulder 33 onv the channel like connecting member 28, ter- 130 minatcs near the rear edge of the stationary knife bar 254 on said connecting member'. tortion by bars 85 (see Fig.v 3) which connect the rearmost angle bar 83 with the rear bar The table 80 is mounted for a short, lateral vibrating movement between the standards 2G by means of front and rear, vertically arranged tiexible plates 80. 8T which are connected at their bottom ends to the side bars 81 of the frame and are connected at their top ends to but. are spaced a short distance inwardly from, said end standards. The plate 84 is of a depth less than that of the table or frame 80 and is adapted to provide the support for the metallic sheet 89 which is being operated upon, the sheet being placedupon the table ,with its longer sides extending transversely of the machine. To prevent the sheet from shifting laterally or twisting while on said table, there are provided a short distance above the end bars 81,81, guide bars 90, 90 (see Figs. 3 and 17) which overhang the narrower ends of the sheet'. as shown in Figs.

17 and 18.. Located a short distance above the table 80, at each side thereof, and arranged in the space between the channel like connecting members 27 and 28, is asheet feeding` mechanism indicated as a whole 'in Fig. 3 by the reference number 91, which is ada )ted to feed'the sheet forwardly toward an between the coacting knife bars, al

distance equal to the width of the strands. between the rows of mesh of the finished expanded sheet. As the feed-mechanismat each side of the table is the saune, a description of one will suffice for both. Each .sheet feeding mechanism includes an elongated block 92 (see Figs.l 3 and `15) which isl arranged parallel with but spaced inwardly from the associated end -standard 26. Inthe top surface of the elongated block 92 isa longitudinal groove 93 ladapted to receive a'shoe or guide block. 94. The guide block 94 'is made rigid with and is supported from'the adjacent side bar 81 of the table by means. of a plurality of U shaped yokes 9 5, 95, one end of each of which is secured to'the guide blocks and the other end of which is secured to said side bar 81, and in one instance to one of the'bars 83 connecting theside bars together. The

blocks 92 and 94 which are capable of a short. li'mited,'relative longitudinal move-V The table is braced'against dis- 99, (see Fig, 15).

-a lateral shifting movement is imparted to the blocks 92 and through the yokes 95 to the table' 80, as will late-r appear. The feed blocks 92, 92 are so positioned that thei'r forward ends are arranged adjacentthe plane of the presser. foot bar 71 and the flanges 74 both of which are cut away to provide room for the forward ends of said blocks, as is apparent from Fig. 4.

l Associated with the elongated block, isa sheet gripping means, that operates to grip the sheet 89., after which a forward movement is imparted to the block 92-to feed said sheetforward a distance equal to the width of a strand between the open mesh of the finished sheet.l After this feeding movement, the gripping'means is released and the blocks 92 are retracted to" their normal position. Extending transversely through the feed block 92 below the groove 93, is a plurality ofishort, rock 4shafts 99` The innerend of each of said shafts, carries a crank arm. 100-all 'of which are p-iv'otally connected to a universal bar 101 spaced vinwardly of and adjacent to the elongatedYi block 92. The rear end of said bar carries an adjustable eye' bolt 102 which is connectedv by a short link 102a to an arm 103 fixed to a horizontally.-disposed, transversely 'extending rock shaft 104 which is journalled at its ends in suitable boxes 105 on the rear e-nds of said Ablocks 92.

The outer ends of the two forward rock.

gripping teeth. 4 i

will engage the bottom surface of the sheet i 89 which is being operatedk upon. 'It is apparent that whenthe rock shaft 104, is actuated, a like movement is imparted to the short rock shafts 99,.which through the eccentric pins 106 will actuate the feed shoe to alternatelyl grip .and .release the sheet 89.

Forward and` rearward short, reciprocatl ing movement is imparted to the elongated `fixed to the ends of a horizontally disposed,

shaft1104. Each pin block 112I is capable of a radial adjustment in the arm 113 with refy 'erence vto theshaft 114 so4 thatthe throw of the pincan be carefullydetermined. The' .rock shaft 114 has bearing; at its ends; in

bearing .brackets 115 which are. secured to the bottom flange 42 of the connectingmem ber' 27 land extend rearwardly .therefrom. After the gripping` shoes have gripped the' sheet, therock shaft 114 operates through' the connecting rods 110 'and channel 98 .to

impart :aforward movement to the elongated blocks 92, the-rock shaft 104, which is' if a comparatively small diameter, 'flexing l with themovement of the velongated block. The universal joint connection of the pitman 110 with" its associated parts, pemitsxfthelateral shifting movement of thetable without in anygmanner interferinglwith the im-.

partingof the reciprocating movement to Rocking movement is4 imparted to the shaftsA 104 vand v114 from themain .drive shaft 65 as follows z-The main-,drive shaft has bearing at its middlein a' bearingbox4 117, (see'Fig's. 3 and 6) madeintegral'with` a bracket 118 which projects rearwardly from the Ytop connecting member 27A at its middle. bearing box 119'in which'the rock-'shaft 114 lis journalled ,at its middle and forms the support for a hanging box 120, (see Fig.f-2)l in which the rock shaft104 is journalled at its middle.'l Fixed to the main drive shaft,

122 carried by the short arm of a hellv crank lever 123'which is pivoted at 124 to the arm. 126.

bracket 118. The long. arm lof said bell crank lever has a universal jointjconnection lwith the top end of a pitman or connecting rod 125 the other or bottom end of which has a similarv connection with an arm 126 fixed to the rock shaft. 104 adjacent the bearing hanger 120. It is apparent that in the 'rotationof the drive shaft, a rocking movement is imparted to the shaft 104through the cam-groove121b, bell crank lever123 and Associated with the cam groove 121a is a roller V128 djournalled lnear a top .end` of the'lever'129, which is loosely mounted .`on

the rock shaft 114. Fixed to said rock shaft,

adjacent the lever 129, is a second and similar lever 130, and pivoted to the top end of saidA lever is a rocking pawl'which includesl two arms 131, 132. A coiled spring133 (see- Fig. 5)- connects the arm 132-with the lever 130' toholdthe last mentioned arm downwardly.. The arm 131 carries an upwardly This bracket includes a'v second' extending vlug 131a adapted to'engag'e in a hole' 129a in thetop' end of the lever 129 which is bent laterally to overhang the pawl arm 131. The pawlarm 132 has a .similar lug 132a' adapted to engage in a hole 134a in the upper tine 134'of aforkedmember 413 5 fixed to and extending rearwardly from the top flange 4l o f the connecting member 27.,

. A [coiled spring 136 connects the top end of the lever 130 withthe connecting member 27 and acts to` yieldingly urge Isaid top end toward said connecting-member when the lever .130 vis disconnected from the lever. 129 as shown in F ig. 5, to hold the rock shaft 114 `in one limitof its rocking position.

'of the rock shaft 114. Thisshaft has bearing. at one end (the right hand end as'viewed in Figs. 2 and 3)l inl a boss provided therefor on the bracket v118 and extends through and beyond, but has bearing in the left hand standard 26 as :viewed in said --gures a plane` intermediate-the levers 129 and 130 is a-'short horizontally extending arm 138.

Fixed to said shaft in 139 indicates a vertically disposed rod which extends at its bottom Iend through said arm .138, and at its top end through the bottom `tine 134b of the fork l135 and'engages with the'un'derside of thepawl arm 132. A colc lar 139il isfsec'ured near the top end of said to one side of the bracket 118 (the left hand rod and surrounding the same between said collar and the'arm138 is an expansion coiled spring 140,/ which' normally urges said ,rod againstsaid pawl arm. The shaft .137 is intended' to be rocked'manually, as will later appear, and when it is so rocked to swing the arm 138 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 it will, through a cross pin in the bottom end of the rod 139, move the same downward away. from the pawl arm 132. The spring 133 will then swing the be imparted'to the rock shaftj114 by reason of. the fact that the two levers 129 and 130 are locked together as before -mentioned This' rocking movement of the shaft is translated 'into a short, recipmicating' movement of the-elongated feed bars 92 as before dscribedfto-ffeed the sheet forwardlly to the knife bars. .-Wh'enthe parts are in the porock the lever v129 andth'is movement will sitionAV show'n lin wherein the levers 129 andv130 are disconnected, thecam 121 only acts'to rock the le ver 129idlyby reason iso' . gear pinion. 141 which vmeshes with avgear '142 journalled on a stud 143 projecting laterally from the bracket 118. Made rigid witha roller engaged in said vcam groove whichrolleris carried on the topend of along arm 147 of a bell crank rocking lever 148, (see f v said gea-r 142 and arranged between the same and the bracket 118 isa cam disc 144 having a peripheral cam groove 145. 146 indicates Fig. 6) which is pivoted lat 149 tothe bottom fla-nge 42 of the-connectingvmember 27, t0- rock about a verticalaxis." The-short horizontal arml 147a of said lever projects forwardlyand loverhangs the channel bar 98 which connects the elongated blocks 92 of the sheet feeding. means together. Said short arm' 147"1 is p-ivotally connected to the lchannel 98 by a link'15OV` It is apparent that when the cam 144 is rotating, it will,

through the bell crank 148 and link 150impart a lateral Vibrating or reciprocating movement to thecha-nnel -member 98.' By. reason'of the fact that the elongatedbloeks 92l are connected to thetable lside bars 81,y through the yokes 95, a like movement is im-,.

parted to the table andsheet 89, the table being connected to thel standard 26 by the spring plates 86, 87 to support and accommodate the table in such' movement. t j

` It is apparent from the foregoing that the sheet 89 is fedl forward., step by step, be-

' tween the knife bars 35 and 51, a dist-ance Aequal to the width of a strand 89a (See Fig.

11).' As. the upper or' movable knife 'ba-rl descendsand engages that margin .of the sheet projecting over the lower or stationary knife bar 35, it will first cut a plurality of- 'transversely spaced slits 89". in said vsheet margin. Further downward movement of the'knife bar 51 will bend the slit portions downward and will stretch them so .that they conform to the engaging faces 52"l of the knife'sections 52. rIhe said knife` bar now ascends and the table 80 and sheet 89v lare shifted laterally so lthat the next timeA the knife descends it will cut the slits A89b inthe planes of the bonds 89c connecting the associated strands together. Thus, the expanded parts 89e of the finished sheet, are formed. During this .movement of the table and sheet, the feed shoes 107 engage and grip the sheet, after which the elongated blocks 92 move forwardly to feed the sheet between the knives, a distance equal tothe width of a strand 89a. The bend is imparted to the slit and severed portions or strands of the sheet in a direction at right angles to the plane of the remaining portion of the sheetjand thusno contraction of the sheet occurs, as Athe expansion is obtained by the bending strands. l

The expanded portion of the sheet beyond the knife bar 35V follows down a plurality of. guide arms 151 whichare spaced transverselyapart at'the front of the. machine,

the said arms .being inclineddownwardly and voutwardly .from the stationary knife Vbar 35. The bottomrends of said guide arms' have bearing on a horizontally disposed, transverse rock shaft 1,52 which is j ournalled atl its ends in bearing boxes. 153,'projecting forwardly from the .bottom ends ofthe, standards 26. The said guide 'arms are secured between. their endsto the front face of the web 29 of the connecting member 28. Associated with said guide arms is an open frame which is pivoted to and depends from theknife head 45 and reciprocates in the -planeof the guide arms 151-to 'assist in feed -ing the expanded portion of the sheet down wardly against said guide arms.. `*The said open frame comprises 'a pluralityv o-f verti and stretching 'ofv the A'several cally disposed bars 154 which are 'arranged 1 in the planes of the `guide arm's. Said bars are secured at their top ends to .a transversely extending shaft 15.5 d. which lis ournalled at its ends in hangers 156 depending from the l ends of the knife head 45. The bottom ends of said bars are 'connected vtogether by a" rod 157. The endmost bars-154 "are, connected by links 158.to vthe free ends ofzarms ,159, y secured to the ends of the shaft. Y152. When 'the operator desires to'withdraw.. a

finished,l expanded sheet fromA the machine, he grasps the rod 157 and swings the frame bars 154`outwardly about/the shaft 155 as an axis. This movement will, through-,the-j. 1' links 158 and arms 159, rock theshaft'-152.""-v

Secured to one end of the shaft 152beyond viewed in Fig. 1') is another arm 1,60, shown in'A dotted lines in Fig. 4. The arni'lO'is connected by a link161, a1- ranged infa, 'plane between the end standard 26- and balance' the bearing box-153 (the righthandl end as lio wheel`-65b,'to a similar-arm 1.62 secured to that end of the shaft 137 before 'ment`ioned,

which projects beyond the standard 26,as`

before described. Thus, when the'shaft'152 is rocked lin this manner, a similar movement is imparted to the. shaft 137 which threu h the arm 138 and rod 139 will dis'engage t e pawl lever 131 from the arm 129 so that the: rockshaft 11-4 which operatesfto feed the sheet"forwardly is disconnected from the main drive shaft. This, however, hasno effect upon the means for Alaterally vibrating the Vfeed table 80, so consequently' the expanded part vof the sheet' overhanging the bottom stationary knife bar is severed from the remainder of the sheet in' themovem'ent` thereof. The forward feed of 'the sheet mayv i 'alsobe. contrlled byl the operator,r who vplaces the sheet 89 upon thetable 80 and tof' 'this end there is provided a'A lever 163 which- 13.0y

is fixed to the shaft 137 just inside of one of the standards 26. After a new sheet 89 has 4been inserted in place, the shaft 137 is rocked to throw`the -pawl lever 131 into locked engagement with the-arm 129 after.

which the operation goes on as before described. l

ln 'connection with the mechanism for feeding the sheetA forward toward and between the knife bars, as before described, which Aconstitutes the main or primary feed.- ing means, we provide another o`r secondary sheetl feeding means'which is adapted, after a predetermined number of operations'of the primary feedingmeans to feed 'the sheet toward and between the knife'bars, a distance greater than `the width ofone'of the strands 89a of the expandedportionp89 of the finished sheet,-aft'e'r which the primary feeding means again actiiat es to' feed theV sheet, so that inthe-finished, expanded sheetl there appears alternating-bands or strips'of `expanded and une'X'panded sheet portions 89e 'and 8 9f. After the finished'sheet been removed from the machine. the saldfshe'eti is passed .'through a. ribbing-"machine -which acts` upon the unexpanded bands or strips to upsetl them intosp'aced ribs Iwhich extendv longitudinally of the sheet. jf'

The secondarysheet feedingv means is so' constructed lin this case and isso correlated with respect to the primary feedingI means,

. that it may be thrown out of operation so that the machine may be used when so desiredfto expand the entire sheet into open mesh.

The 'secondary feeding means is constructed as follows r-Arranged ;in horizontal plane, :extending parallel with the end standards and spaced an equal distance on each side 0f the plane of the intermediate bracket 118 are feed bars 165, 165 (see Figs. 3 and 7). 'As the mechanism associated'with each feed bar is the same, adescriptionjof one will sufce for both. Each bar has a sliding non-rotative bearing in spaced bracketsl, 166, whichfdepend from the bottom flange 42 of the channel shaped member 27, confnecting the'end standards together. .Said brackets support said bar in a planel above Adjustablyconnected to the rear end of' said bar is an extension barA adapted to extend beneath the rockshaft 104. Said extension has sliding bearing in a hanger 171 which depends from the vrock shaft and at` the rear end of said extension is provided a vertically disposed pin 172, which may he adjusted to determine the heightI of thatfff part extending above the .end v'of said criteri-- sion. Loose -on therock shaft 104is adisc 'i'.

173 carrying a'plurality 'of laterally extend-v ing pins l74'adapted to overhang the plane 'of theextension 170. On that sidel of the disc opposite the pins-17 4, and .made integral with the disc, is a hub having ratchet teeth 175. FiX-edto the shaft 104 'adjac'ent the hubvis la crank arm 176 carrying-a pawl '177 adapted tden'gage with the Aratchet teeth and on the other side of the'disc is a collar 178,- the collar and crankarmzprevent.

ing-endwise,movement ofthe disc.4 .Carried on the hanger 171 is a second pawl 179l which i i enga es the ratche't'teeth and vprevents back-y war movement of the dise 173,. i ,1

'Asth'e' shaft 4'104 is 'rocked in the step by step forward feed ofthe sheet.: 89,thedisc- 173 through the p'awl 177 is rotated step by step. As the pins -174'on the disc ].73 overhang the extension 170 lof the bar'i, one A of said-pins 174 will engage the pin 172 o n said extensionand move l'the'bar `165 rear`r wardly step by step, against the 'action`ofthe .spring 168 which is being' placed under tension." `After a predetermined number of rocking movements .ofthe shaft '104.:the active" pin 174'will have. moved the bar 165'"- rearwardly a distance greater thanthat of one'of vthe strandsf89a-when said pin will slip off or pass the-pin 172 which is then released, the power stored up -in the spring when being vplaced under tension acting to impart la 'uick 4forward.movement to theba'r165. r he feed shoe 169 in' said movement' will act to grip 'the sheet 89 and feed the 'sheet forwardly the. desired distance `the .next succeeding -pin 174 being in the position, as'show'nl .in-Fig. 7, to again=move ',said-b'ar-rearwardly, asvbefore described. A

stopl (see dotted. lines in Fig. 7) may be the bar 165.

Y.provided to limit -the forward movement ,i In Fig. 10 is show the i'she' expanded., l

lsheet with thee'xpanded portions 89e'alternating with 'the unexpanded`] o'ortions 89, said Qarrangement being illustrated more `in- -detail in the :sectional lview shown in yF ig.

12. The sheet is then` passed through a' I ribbing machine 'having' suitable rolls or strips thereof. to upset the same into ribs 89g,` (see Fig. l13) the sheet now being ready for usefor its intended purpose'.

Should it be so desired, the pawl- 177 may be vthrown out of engagement with the ratchet 175, so as to .be inoperative. Thu

-which act upon the unexpanded lportions- 'the secondary feed of `the sheetis c toff A.

from the other parts of the-machine which will then act to expand' the entire' sheet.

The operation of the machine, andthe "advantages thereof is apparent, from the" "I foregoing description.

"While in describing'our invention we have ferredto certain details of mechanical construction and arrangement of parts, we

LRO

yof one of the strands of the do not wish to be' limited thereto except as, may be pointed out in the appended claims.

IVe claim as our invention.:I

l. In a machine. of the kind described for expanding sheet metal, in combination with the means for simultaneously slitting, stretching and-expanding, said means acting in each operation throughoutthe length of the' sheet, and the means for feeding .the sheet step by step towards said slitting,- stretching and 'expanding means, devices operating at predetermined intervals for increasing the width of one step of the feed, whereby alternate predetermined widths ofbands of expanded and of unexpan'ded metal Aextending the length of' the sheet are produced in succession.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of ceac-ting knife bars, having a'relative vertical movement, means .for feediiig a sheet toward and between said .knife bars, one of said knife barsv and'said last mentioned means having a relative lateral movement, and means acting at predetermined intervals in the feeding movement of said sheet for feeding the same forward between said knife bars,a distance greater than the width of one of the strands of the expanded portion thereof. i

3. In a machine ofthe kind described, the combination of a stationary, lower knife bar, an upper knife bar capable of a vertical movement ,toward and away from said stationary lower knife bar, means for feeding a sheet toward-and between said knife bars, said upper knife bar and said last mentioned means having a relative lateral movement, and means acting at predetermined intervals in the feeding movement of said sheet for feeding the same forward between said knife bars, a distance greater thanA the width expanded portion thereof. i y

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of coacting knife bars, having` a relative vertical movement, means for feeding a sheet toward and .between said knife bars, one of said knife bars and said last mentioned means having av relative lateral movement, and means acting on theunexpanded portion of said sheet. and at predetermined intervals in the feeding movement thereof, for feeding` said sheet forward. between said .knife bars, 'a' greater distance 'than the width of one of the strands of the expanded portion of said sheet.4

5. In a machine of the kind described, the con'ibination of coacting knife bars, having a relative vertical movement, means. for feeding a sheet .toward and between saidl knife bars step by step, a distance equal td the width of one of the strands of the ex'- having 'a relative lateral movement, and means acting after al predetermined number of step `by step feeding movements of said `sheet Phasbeenl accomplished, .for feeding said sheet forward between said-knife bars, a distance greater 'than .one of said step by step feeding movements of vsaid sheet.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the,

combination ofcoacting knife bars, having a relative vertical movement, means for feedinga sheet, toward and-between said knife bars step bv step, a distance equalI to thev width of one of the strands of the expanded portion of said sheet, one of said knife bars and said-last mentioned means having a rela- `tive lateral movement, and means acting aftei a predetermined number of step by step feeding movements of said sheet hasa relativevertical movement, primary means for feeding a sheet toward and between said knife bars, in comparatively short step .by

step movements, and-a secondary means for feeding the sheet" toward and. between the knife bais at predetermined intervals, a distance greaterthan that ofone: of said step by step feeding movements of said -primary means, saidsecondaryfeeding means autom'atically coming into operation after a predeteiminedgnumberfof step by step feeding .movements by said primary means, one of said feedingmeans having a relativelateral movement with bars.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination ofjcoacting knife bars, having a relative vertical movement, primary means for feeding a sheet toward and betweensaid knife bars, in comparatively short step by step movements, and a secondary means jfor respectto one of said knife' feeding the sheet toward and between tiieknife bars, a 'distance greater than one ofsaid step by step feeding-movements of said primary means, devices included in said secondary feeding means and. actuated by said primary feeding means vfor storingup power for actuating said secondary feeding step by step feeding movements of 'said primary feeding means, t o' actuate said seclondary feeding means, there ybeing a relative lateral movement` vbetween said primary feeding means and'one of said knife bars. 9. In a machinepfthe kind described, the combinationof coacting knife'bars, having a relatiye vertical movement, primary .means, said power storing devices being au-` isol means for feeding a sheet toward and between said knife bars-in comparatively short step by step movements, said primary feeding' means being capable of a lateral movement with respect to one of said knife bars', a secondary means for feeding the sheet toward and between the knife bars at predetermined intervals, a distance greater than that of one of said step by step feeding movements of said primary means, said secondary feeding means being dependent for its operation on said primary feeding means, and means for disconnecting the secondary feeding means from the primary feeding means,-so that the secondary feeding means is rendered inoperative without affecting the operation of theprimary feeding means.

l0. In a machine of the kind ,described for expanding sheet metal, in combination with means `for simultaneously slitting', stretching and expanding, said means acting in each operation throughout'the length of the sheet, means for feeding the sheet step by step towards said slitting, stretching and expanding means, for a predetermined number of operations ofsa'id last named means, and means for periodically feeding a wider strip of predetermined width where# by alternate bands of expanded an'd of unexpanded'metal extending the length of the sheet are producedin succession.

11. In a -machine of the kind described l for expanding sheet metal, .in combination with means for Vsimultaneously y slitting,

of the sheet, devices for feeding said sheet step by stepftowards said slitting, stretching and expanding means until a predetermined width of sheet has been expanded,'

with means for simultaneous-ly slitting,

stretching, and expanding, said means act-- ing. in each operation throughout the length of the sheet, devicesfor feeding said sheet .step lby step towards said slitting, stretching and expanding means until a predetermined width of sheet has been expanded, nd means for momentarily increasing the wi h of one .step of the feed ofthe sheet at predetermined intervals in the operation of the slitting, stretching and expanding means, whereby alternate bands of expanded and of unexpanded metal extending' the length of the sheet are roduced in succession.

In testimony t at we claim the foregoing as our mvention we aix our signatures 1n the presence of two witnesses, this 17 th day of January, 1923.

.- TQRRIS H.. ALFREDS. Witnesses:

N. B. SULLIvAi CLARENQ E. EHLHOPE. 

